tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5921065339469855012014-10-05T00:58:31.302-07:00LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS JOS, NIGERIALEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-47074930977622562882011-08-11T00:38:00.000-07:002011-08-11T00:49:42.233-07:00THE N18, 000.00 MINIMUM WAGE TRAP 8h August 2011
<br /> THE N18, 000.00 MINIMUM WAGE TRAP
<br /> “As I talk to you, only four states can comfortably pay without compromising their development programmes – Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa and to some extent Delta. We have reached a stage now that if we pay, we are damned. If we don’t pay, we are damned,”
<br />A governor who prefers to remain anonymous, Source ThIsday 4th August 2011)
<br />Not even after the chairman of the governors’ forum finally agreed on behalf of his colleagues that they would pay the minimum wage, not a few governors have been grumbling - not even that of Lagos, which generates an IGR of between 18 to 21 billon naira monthly - about the high cost of the minimum wage on their finances. The complaints centre mostly on the balances which will be left after they return from monthly federation account meetings.
<br />The federal government perhaps negotiating from a position of weakness and keen on avoiding an imminent industrial action has agreed to pay across board. We must however give it to the federal government. They have been the pacesetters in improving the pay of their workers. For close to a year they have increased the wages of federal workers. A civil servant on level 9 working in a federal agency earns about N120,000, while his counterpart in some states on the same level including Plateau takes home about N26,000.00
<br />It is true that many governors concern about the practicability of paying the minimum wage is not in doubt. Many have the burden of competing demand and how to address them. They have to cope with a bourgeoning political class, challenges of insecurity, demands of other arms of government, the public service, political, tribal and social patronage, sudden contingencies, demand for social services and infrastructure. To compound issues, the numbers of pensioners are on the increase, while productivity is on the decline.
<br />Yet, the anger, according to a union official, for the imposition of the minimum wage has some link with how the political class are rewarded in Nigeria. A huge gulf exists, according to him, between the two. He gave me an example of a Health Assistant who worked in one of the ministries I headed who was engaged during the Chief Dariye era and whose last level was level 6, who hitherto received N12, 000 a month as total emolument but is now receiving around N500, 000.00 monthly as a member of the House. Little wander organised labour said it would no longer negotiate with governors over the N18, 000 minimum wage. This is coming against the background of the stance of many governors that they would rather brace up for a “crippling strike” because the new wage cannot be implemented. Organised labour on the other hand has asked all governors “to toe the path of honour” by immediately commencing the implementation of the new wage since the Federal Government had agreed to pay across board. This is coming against the backdrop of the nature of our federation where decisions of such nature are taken at the centre and passed down without consultation with key stakeholders at the state level. At the same time, the idea of a national minimum wage across the country is good as it provides a standard. It is the practice even in developed countries.
<br />What is the way out? There are many things wrong with the nature of the Nigerian society. It is a consumer society that loves pleasure, where we indulge in consumption with little thought of how to create wealth and improve our productive capacity. We live in a society where almost everything is imported from food items, to diesel, to generating sets, to tooth pick to mango juice and even kerosene reading lamps. We spend hundreds of billions of dollars importing things we ought to produce. The new minister of Agriculture has stated that Nigeria spends trillions of naira importing food yearly. Nigerians have become guinea pigs to be used to improve the technology of many Asian countries and because the elite class has not shown the way forward in patronising local goods, imported goods have become a status symbol and means of personal prestige. Nigeria is a renter state that depends on rents collected from the sale of crude oil. To make matters worse, a lot of money is spent on overhead and recurrent expenditure mostly gotten from proceeds of oil money which is shared monthly.
<br />While many governors have complained that they cannot afford to pay, yet they lack the necessary political will to begin the process of taking concrete measures towards radically improving their state’s economy through improvement of the revenue base. Lagos stands out. It didn’t happen in Lagos by wish. It came about through hard work, diligence and proper planning. It came about through putting square pegs in square holes. Many others are not living by example. They make the right statements about improving their revenue base, entrenching due process, ensuring probity and accountability, having zero tolerance for favouritism, sleaze and systematic looting, yet their acts and conducts are far from it. Albert Schweitzer has noted that example is not the main thing in leadership it is the only thing. Many of them have not been good models beyond rhetoric. They must do the difficult thing and practice what they preach. There is nothing more confusing to the masses than a leader who gives good advice and sets bad example. A pint of example they say is worth more than a gallon of advice. This issue of minimum wage offers us an opportunity to prioritise and see how governance can offer us the best result towards concretely improving the lives of our people and reducing the cost of governance..
<br />MY MARCH THROUGH GOVERNMENT: By the time the Chief Dariye/Baba Botmang administration was winding up in 2007, it was evident that the people of Plateau were yearning for change. The two were variously accused of corruption - a matter EFCC is still prosecuting in court. The latter was in fact accused of tribilization of power - a condition where others outside the tribe of power were made to think that they were done a huge favour if they got any appointment or patronage. So when that change came in 2007, yours sincerely had the privileged of been Commissioner for Housing and Environment, then Commerce and Industry and finally Youth and Sports. How did I cope with pressure of people who dissuaded me from accepting to serve, some even as we appeared at the House for screening? Did I sell out when I accepted to be a commissioner or was it merely a continuation of service? If I did not, what has been my contribution in concrete terms? What did I meet on ground when I first reported on 29th of August in the Ministry of Environment? What were the challenges of setting up an engine room for environment? (i.e. purchase of about 32 vehicles made up of trucks, compactors, water tankers, cars, tractor, motorcycles for supervisors and forest officers, strengthening the Forestry Department and raising 2 million nursery trees, engagement of over 5,000 ad hoc staff- mostly made up of widows - and supervisors who worked in 40 communities, installation of sidewalk refuse bins in Jos and all tertiary institutions in the state including UJ etc) How did we go about the issue of cooperative revitalisation in Commerce? After so many false starts how did we get it right to restart the abandoned Zaria road stadium with an increased seating capacity from 27,000 to 44,000 not to forget the Jakatai (Mangu) NYSC permanent orientation camp. How about getting approval for the renovation of the derelict Rwang Pam Township Stadium to a befitting standard with proper seats and standard dressing room and borehole? How did I handle the issue of those who made a big issue just because I engaged a non indigene as SA? What of some political elite in (from) my local government who have an obsessive hatred for my district which has since developed into an encompassing political philosophy? What has been my experience and what are the lessons? Did I take my assignment too seriously? Did I make a difference? What initiative and ideas did I bring into governance? If I did, where did I draw my inspiration? Did I ensure that government resources were used prudently and creatively? Did II walk the talk? What are the legacies? Questions and questions and questions....for another day
<br />
<br />Nankin Bagudu esq.
<br />
<br />posted by
<br />khalid kassim
<br />M&E LHR
<br />LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-80141884711360175912011-08-10T12:46:00.000-07:002011-08-11T07:57:14.194-07:00JUST PUBLISHED BY LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS:
<br />
<br />THOROUGHNESS, CORRECTNESS AND CONSISTENCY
<br />THE LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS' PRESS RELEASES THROUGH THE YEARS
<br />VOL 1
<br />
<br />POSTED BY
<br />
<br />KHALID KASSIM
<br />M&E LHRLEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-22971170945733416362010-08-27T05:40:00.000-07:002010-08-27T05:45:27.650-07:00FEEDING FAT ON THE SWEAT OF OUR POOR WIDOWS: A SAD TALE FROM THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTFEEDING FAT ON THE SWEAT OF OUR POOR AND HELPLESS WIDOWS: <br />A SAD TALE FROM THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT<br /><br />A little over a week ago, a widow who sweeps around the secretariat junction died and the women in their zone, after doing their daily sweeping core took permission to go and attend the burial. A week later, the women now reported to receive their monthly salary, only to be told that three hundred Naira (N300.00) will be deducted from their monthly eight thousand naira (N8000.00) pay for abstention from work each day. The women in unison rejected the cut and decided they have had enough. They refused to be intimidated. The matter became a matter of public discourse and the women stood their ground. On Tuesday 3rd August 2010 they were called to collect their full pay. <br /><br />The above scenario is a reflection of the crisis state of development our widows are subjected to through out the 17 Local government areas of Plateau state by a few hands that are saddled with the responsibility of paying widows in the state. <br /><br />When the Plateau State government introduced measures to keep the city clean and its quest to give a lifeline to the underprivileged, that single act drew a lot of applause from the people of the state. People that were engaged from the on set of that initiative started the work with every zeal and determination and discharged their duties to the admiration of the populace.<br /><br />Supervisors in the field are required as a matter of priority to ensure that they put in the names of absentees every month so that the money would not be shared amongst a few people. In all the local government areas where this policy is implemented, the people doing the payments are feeding fat on the sweat of widows. The system in the ministry of environment must be the only one where poor widows are made to sign for N8000.00 on the vouchers and are paid less. In some cases when the widows are absent on pay day, they are made to forfeit the entire pay for the month. No account is given of how much is deducted. It is shared by a few people who are feeding fat on the lapse in the system. <br /><br />The Plateau state government introduced this policy to address the problem of poor sanitation in the state and their contribution has gone a long way in improving the face of the state. The purpose was also to ameliorate the suffering of these widows. It is therefore shocking that this well thought<br /><br /><br /> policy has become a means of self enrichment for a few who are feeding fat on the sweat of the widows.<br /><br />This issue needs to be looked into with a view to punishing the culprits. The three ministries, the ministry of environment, finance and local government should do something about it immediately. All right conscience people must condemn this outright fraud by these few selfish people bent on destroying this noble ideal. <br /><br />We in the League condemn this shameful act intoto and call on the relevant officers to act so as to save the face of the situation. <br /><br /><br />Gad Peter<br />Director <br /><br />POSTED BY<br />KHALID KASSIMLEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-53939512754918378892010-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:002010-06-24T09:06:36.857-07:00GOVERNMENT'S INSENSITIVITY AND OKADA RIDER'S SENSELESSNESS8th June 2010<br /> PRESS RELEASE<br /><br /> GOVERNMENT’S INSENSITIVITY AND OKADA RIDERS’ SENSELESSNESS<br /><br />We observed with utter dismay the upheavals that rocked the city of Jos yesterday the 7th June 2010, which led to the displacement of people; partial collapse of economic activities in the city center; the killing of innocent citizens; and the vandalization of properties.<br />Every sane human being will condemn in strong terms the way and manner the okada riders resorted to taking the laws into their hands. The action of the Okada riders does not elicit sympathy from us because it smacks of high level of irresponsibility and a gross violation of an existing law. The innocent people killed by the protesters did not enact the law neither were responsible for the enforcement of the law. We candidly and urgently call on the leadership of the okada riders to call their members to order and find alternative means of channeling their grievances and remain law abiding citizens of the state.<br /><br />In the same vein, we want to condemn in totality the half-hearted action taken by government in trying to enforce the law prohibiting the operation of commercial motor-cycle riders. It is saddening that the will of government is invariably tested without appropriate measures to curtail such brazen effrontery on the government. It is pertinent therefore, that if government lacks the political will to consummate this ban it should restrain from embarking on it than to start something that will cause the dead of innocent people. We are aggrieved at the insensitivity of the government towards the deployment of adequate security personnel to nip the senselessness of the protesters in the bud.<br /><br />Looking at the volatile nature of the okada riders and their nuisance notoriety, which informed the ban in the first place, government would have been more sensitive in its approach to implementing the ban. We expect that adequate security measures should have been put in place in order to checkmate the activities of the okada riders as this would have averted the chaos that happened in the city of Jos. <br /><br />When government is implementing its policies, it should be committed in ensuring that it is been enforced to the later instead of half-hearted implementation of policies. In implementing a ban of such it is expected that government provides alternative means of transportation which will ameliorate the suffering imposed by the ban on the citizenry. It is equally envisaged that government would integrate the okada riders through the provision of other sources of livelihood to check the impending negative influence their idleness will bring to the society. But the absence of such remedial policies undermines the effectiveness of the law. It becomes untenable if government puts a show in trying to ban the okada riders and later go to sleep only to be awoken by the same okada riders roaming the street.<br /><br />This incident has created victims and it would be doubly insensitive on the part of government not to adequately compensate them. Everyone affected by the chaos should be adequately compensated.<br />The Okada riders should also be warned that there is no justification for flouting the law of the land and those found to have cause the chaos be dealt with accordingly. We also want to put it on notice that government would be held responsible in the event of another breakdown of law and order in the state because what happened yesterday was totally avoidable.<br /><br />Patience Dassah<br />Programme Coordinator <br /><br />POSTED BY<br />KHALID KASSIMLEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-70039731976217951872010-06-24T08:37:00.000-07:002010-06-24T08:59:12.098-07:00ACT OF LAWLESSNESS10th June 2010<br /> <br /> PRESS RELEASE<br /> <br /> ACT OF LAWLESSNESS<br />We condemn in strong terms the killing of a police officer and the attack on the places of worship by some hoodlums and commercial motorcyclist in the city of Jos. We observed with dismay, that some unpatriotic citizens have made it a habit that at the slightest provocation, they take the laws into their hands thereby distorting the peace of the state.<br /><br />We want to use this medium to call with a loud voice on all well meaning Nigerians and religious leaders to condemn in totality these act of lawlessness which is directed at uniform personnel, worship centers and business premises. <br /><br />To these end we call on the police authority to equip their personnel and to beef-up security at areas which have become flash points and susceptible to incessant attacks. Government should brace up to the challenges the ban has thrown up by tackling the unceasing lawlessness that is becoming the order of the day in the city.<br /><br />The commercial motorcyclists should bear in mind that the law they are flouting and the law enforcement agencies they are confronting today will be their saving grace tomorrow.<br />Peace is the only alternative to an orderly society. <br /><br />Patience Dassah<br />Programme Coordinator<br /><br />POSTED BY<br />KHALID KASSIMLEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-65553077313811515712010-03-26T04:10:00.000-07:002010-03-26T04:18:39.141-07:00WHAT IS THE GOC SAYING?12th March 2010<br /> <br /><br /> WHAT IS THE GOC SAYING?<br /><br />When the Acting President ordered the military to lead the security operations in Plateau State, the GOC issued a statement, albeit taking it beyond constitutional bounds, that he has taken over the internal security operations of the state, it was thought everything will be put under control and we would not be confronted by enemies that kill sleep.<br /><br />It became shockingly disappointing that in spite of the military taking over the security of the state, many innocent women and infants were hacked down by some blood thirsty Fulani herdsmen.<br /><br />Instead of this happening to humble and make the GOC sober and make him come to terms with the fact that he has failed, he came out trading words and pointing accusing fingers and further showing his lack of understanding of the Plateau crises. One wonders how his pronouncement can bring the DEATH back to life. <br /><br />The statement by Gen. Sale Maina sounds so absurd and illogical and depicts his lack of grasp of the enormity of his duty. We decline to defer to his submission that no government official called him. Where does the buck stops when it comes to the issue of intelligence? Is it with the government officials or the man who of late took over the security of the state? This clearly shows his proclivity to abdicate his responsibility and resort to blame game.<br /><br />Another point of concern is the fact that the GOC alleged that he and his men were misled to the wrong direction. This is a confirmation of the urgent need to remove him. How can Nigerians entrust their lives in the hands of a military general who could easily be misled? By this statement he is likely to give a leeway to the assailants to always send him to the wrong direction and continue their reign of terror.<br /><br />There is a huge credibility gap in all the claims of General Maina. Concerning the deployment of troops he contradicted himself by saying the troops were at Dogo Nahawa by 2.45am and that the carnage started at 4am. If that is the case then it would have been checkmated. We challenge the GOC that what he is saying is a blatant lie. As at the time we were at Ratsat village by 1.30 pm, there were just two military personnel seated in a Honda Accord car. It was at 5pm that we noticed the arrival of two trucks of military men into the village.<br /><br />We wish to remind the military authority of the necessity to investigate the activities of the military personnel posted to Jos and to explain the reckless killing of innocent Nigerians by the military. Recently innocent people were shot by soldiers in Tudun Wada, Barakin Ladi and Police Staff College area. A 26 year old Dung Sambo was shot and killed in his family compound in Barakin Ladi and his mother was also ordered to be killed. The question is, who should the people be afraid of? Soldiers or the assailants? We call for the thorough probe of the military so that all that are involved in the extra-judicial killings be punished.<br /> <br />Since the GOC cannot provide the needed security and also stop the killing of innocent Nigerians by military personnel it is not debatable that he should be removed. We re-echo and re-enforce our earlier call that he be removed. NO MORE NO LESS!!! . <br /><br /><br />Shamaki Gad Peter<br />Director <br /><br />POSTED BY KHALID KASSIMLEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-30960458577470384202010-03-17T06:40:00.000-07:002010-03-26T03:53:45.849-07:00THE SNEAKING IN OF MR PRESIDENT<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1033'/"> </v:shape><v:group id="_x0000_s1026" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:187.1pt;" coordorigin="6201,1264" coordsize="1620,1440"> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t59" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="59" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@5@10,20777,6667@7@12,18436,3163@8@11,14932,822@6@9,10800,0@10@9,6667,822@12@11,3163,3163@11@12,822,6667@9@10,,10800@9@6,822,14932@11@8,3163,18436@12@7,6667,20777@10@5,10800,21600@6@5,14932,20777@8@7,18436,18436@7@8,20777,14932@5@6xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32138 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 6393 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 27246 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 18205 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @13 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @13"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@15,@15,@14,@14"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t59" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#f90"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t92" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="92" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@7@14,21232,8005@9@16,20153,5400@11@18,18437,3163@12@17,16200,1447@10@15,13595,368@8@13,10800,0@14@13,8005,368@16@15,5400,1447@18@17,3163,3163@17@18,1447,5400@15@16,368,8005@13@14,,10800@13@8,368,13595@15@10,1447,16200@17@12,3163,18437@18@11,5400,20153@16@9,8005,21232@14@7,10800,21600@8@7,13595,21232@10@9,16200,20153@12@11,18437,18437@11@12,20153,16200@9@10,21232,13595@7@8xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32488 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 4277 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 30274 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 12540 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 25997 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 19948 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @5 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @5"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @6"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @19 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @19"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@21,@21,@20,@20"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t92" style="'position:absolute;" adj="2057" fillcolor="#fc0"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape></v:group><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t136" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="136" adj="10800" path="m@7,l@8,m@5,21600l@6,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum #0 0 10800"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 2 1"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @3 0"> <v:f eqn="if @0 21600 @1"> <v:f eqn="if @0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @4 21600"> <v:f eqn="mid @5 @6"> <v:f eqn="mid @8 @5"> <v:f eqn="mid @7 @8"> <v:f eqn="mid @6 @7"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 0 @5"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="@9,0;@10,10800;@11,21600;@12,10800" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,bottomRight" xrange="6629,14971"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#0cf" strokecolor="#0cf"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="FOR"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="LEAGUE"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="HUMAN RIGHTS"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Working for Economic, Political and Minority Rights "> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1034" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1034'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">No. 6 Tafawa Balewa Street</span></i></b></st1:address></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">, Jos<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Box 7534</span></i></b></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">, <st1:city st="on">Jos</st1:City> <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></span></i></b></st1:address><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Tel: 234-73-451223, 08036278067<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Fax: (234) 073 – 452395 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">E-mail: Leaguerights@yahoo.com<span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span>: http://leagueforhumanrightsblogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: relative; z-index: 6; left: -12px; top: -52px; width: 675px; height: 211px;"> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="0" height="0"><br /></td> <td width="557"><br /></td> <td width="6"><br /></td> <td width="112"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="52"><br /></td> <td rowspan="3" align="left" valign="top"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1026 _x0000_s1027 _x0000_s1028 _x0000_s1029 _x0000_s1030 _x0000_s1031 _x0000_s1032 _x0000_s1034" width="557" height="211" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="41"><br /></td> <td><br /></td> <td style="border: 0.75pt solid white; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;color:white;" width="112" bg height="41"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: 6;"> <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1033" style="padding: 4.35pt 7.95pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:9pt;">RC 483637<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="118"><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >24th February 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1035" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;left:0;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1035'/"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: 8; left: 0px; margin-left: -25px; margin-top: 746px; width: 714px; height: 42px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border: 0.75pt solid white; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;color:white;" width="714" bg height="42"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: 8;"> <table style="top: 63px; height: 389px;" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1035" style="padding: 4.35pt 7.95pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size:8pt;">National Advisory Council:</span></b><span style="font-size:8pt;"> Dr. Bala Takaya, Prof. Sam Egwu. <b style="">Trustees:</b> Hauwa Shekarau, Rev. Mathias Ndian, Dr. Ayodele Jegede.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><span style=""> </span>Christine Olaniyan, <b style="">Director</b>: Shamaki Gad Peter</span></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t138" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="138" adj="10800" path="m0@0l10800,,21600@0m,21600r10800,l21600,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="val #0"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 1 2"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="10800,0;5400,@1;10800,21600;16200,@1" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="topLeft,#0" yrange="0,21600"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t138" style="'width:161.25pt;" fillcolor="black"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Press Release"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" align="center"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:15pt;" >THE SNEAKING IN OF MR PRESIDENT<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" align="center"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >We are glad to receive the news of the arrival of President Yar’Adua back to the country. Though the arrival was without any fanfare because of its clandestine nature, we hope that Nigerians that tried without success to see the President will have the opportunity to see the once elusive president.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >It is our expectation that the president has arrived with all his faculties sound and intact to be able to pilot the affairs of the country very well. This is because his presence alone will not guarantee presidential powers but the soundness of his health matters. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >The Acting President so far has steered the ship of the country with dexterity and deserve the support of all and sundry and any attempt to rock the boat will be a great disservice to this nation. Therefore we demand that anyone plotting to destabilize the nation using the arrival of Yar’Adua should perish such an ambition because it will be resisted by all Nigerians. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >We equally make bold to say any form of incitement by anyone to cause confusion or to resort to any illegal means to overheat the system will be a test of the will of Nigerians to oppose any illegality.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Yar’Adua and his supporters should know that his arrival is not a blank cheque for assumption of powers until he transmits a written letter to the National Assembly signifying his return from medical vacation. We warn that any form of forgery will not be tolerated because the president must be seen to be fit.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >It is imperative for President Yar’Adua’s supporters to note that they should stop playing on the sensibilities of Nigerians by sneaking him out and sneaking him into the country. The President is accountable to all Nigerians and not a minority of Nigerians who feel they can hold this country to ransom. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Shamaki Gad Peter<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >posted by Khalid kassim<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><br /><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><i style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Director <o:p></o:p></span></i></p>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-5848229077974260932010-03-17T06:35:00.000-07:002010-03-17T06:38:58.831-07:00TRUTH SUFFERS AGAIN IN NIGERIA<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:group id="_x0000_s1026" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:187.1pt;margin-top:-33pt;width:87.65pt;" coordorigin="6201,1264" coordsize="1620,1440"> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t59" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="59" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@5@10,20777,6667@7@12,18436,3163@8@11,14932,822@6@9,10800,0@10@9,6667,822@12@11,3163,3163@11@12,822,6667@9@10,,10800@9@6,822,14932@11@8,3163,18436@12@7,6667,20777@10@5,10800,21600@6@5,14932,20777@8@7,18436,18436@7@8,20777,14932@5@6xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32138 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 6393 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 27246 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 18205 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @13 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @13"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@15,@15,@14,@14"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t59" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#f90"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t92" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="92" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@7@14,21232,8005@9@16,20153,5400@11@18,18437,3163@12@17,16200,1447@10@15,13595,368@8@13,10800,0@14@13,8005,368@16@15,5400,1447@18@17,3163,3163@17@18,1447,5400@15@16,368,8005@13@14,,10800@13@8,368,13595@15@10,1447,16200@17@12,3163,18437@18@11,5400,20153@16@9,8005,21232@14@7,10800,21600@8@7,13595,21232@10@9,16200,20153@12@11,18437,18437@11@12,20153,16200@9@10,21232,13595@7@8xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32488 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 4277 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 30274 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 12540 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 25997 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 19948 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @5 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @5"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @6"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @19 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @19"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@21,@21,@20,@20"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t92" style="'position:absolute;" adj="2057" fillcolor="#fc0"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape></v:group><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t136" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="136" adj="10800" path="m@7,l@8,m@5,21600l@6,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum #0 0 10800"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 2 1"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @3 0"> <v:f eqn="if @0 21600 @1"> <v:f eqn="if @0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @4 21600"> <v:f eqn="mid @5 @6"> <v:f eqn="mid @8 @5"> <v:f eqn="mid @7 @8"> <v:f eqn="mid @6 @7"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 0 @5"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="@9,0;@10,10800;@11,21600;@12,10800" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,bottomRight" xrange="6629,14971"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#0cf" strokecolor="#0cf"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="FOR"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="LEAGUE"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="HUMAN RIGHTS"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Working for Economic, Political and Minority Rights "> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1033'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><span style="'font-size:9.0pt'">RC 483637<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1034" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1034'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">No. 6 Tafawa Balewa Street</span></i></b></st1:address></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:">, Jos<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Box 7534</span></i></b></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:">, <st1:city st="on">Jos</st1:City> <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></span></i></b></st1:address><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Tel: 234-73-451223, 08036278067<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Fax: (234) 073 – 452395 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">E-mail: Leaguerights@yahoo.com<span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span>: http://leagueforhumanrightsblogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: relative; z-index: 1; left: -12px; top: -52px; width: 675px; height: 211px;"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1026 _x0000_s1027 _x0000_s1028 _x0000_s1029 _x0000_s1030 _x0000_s1031 _x0000_s1032 _x0000_s1033 _x0000_s1034" height="211" width="675" /></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 1pt; line-height: 120%; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">5th March 2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t138" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="138" adj="10800" path="m0@0l10800,,21600@0m,21600r10800,l21600,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="val #0"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 1 2"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="10800,0;5400,@1;10800,21600;16200,@1" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="topLeft,#0" yrange="0,21600"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t138" style="'width:161.25pt;" fillcolor="black"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Press Release"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.gif" alt="Press Release" shapes="_x0000_i1025" height="39" width="218" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">TRUTH SUFFERS AGAIN IN <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">NIGERIA</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" align="center"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Once again truth is being sacrificed in this country. Some Nigerians have come out to show that propriety should not be contemplated. For Dora Akunyili, the Minister for Information and Communication, daring to question the impropriety of the EXCOF taciturnity in this moment of truth, unpatriotic Nigerians are calling for her head.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Here is a minister of information who had no and still do not have information concerning the President. Imagine the mouthpiece of the government getting wind of the President’s arrival from <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Saudi Arabia</st1:place></st1:country-region> on CNN. We as a people should feel embarrassed by this impunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Nigerians should wake up and stop whipping up parochial sentiments. Akunyili is not part of those who frame the constitution. She should not be blame for the poor handling of the Yar’Adua mystery. If those close to the President have been sincere to Nigerians all this noise would not have arisen.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">If the minister committed a crime by suggesting what is constitutional then the framers of the constitution committed the worse crime by contemplating sections 144 and 145 as it were.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">When the minister presented a memo to discuss the health status of the president, it was view as disloyalty to the man who appointed her. It is instructive for Nigerians to know that a minister’s loyalty is to the country and not to Yar’Adua as a person.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">The minister of Information and Communication deserves commendation and not condemnation for elevating the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Nigerians should come to terms with the fact that the Founding Fathers of this country dared to be ‘maladjusted’ in the eyes of the colonialist to get us breathe the air of independence. If we do not stand up for the truth as Akunyili has demonstrated we will regret it someday.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style=""> </span></span><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">We cannot afford to linger in covertness on issues that must be critically addressed. Silence is a covert threat to this country and we need more of the Akunyilis in governance who will employ refined obstinacy to put the country on the right track.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">The agitations for the removal of the minister, justifying that her statements are capable of heating up the polity, is inexcusable and unacceptable. We therefore condemn in totality the calls for the removal of the minister. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">We make bold to say that Akunyili’s memo and subsequent statements are a moral victory for this country and for <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place> to survive and be in the moral majority we should learn to accept the truth no matter its bitterness.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 26pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Shamaki G. Peter<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1035" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;" filled="f" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1035'/"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: 8; left: 0px; margin-left: -1px; margin-top: 18px; width: 714px; height: 42px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border: 0.75pt solid white; vertical-align: top;" height="42" width="714"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: 8;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1035" style="padding: 4.35pt 7.95pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt;">National Advisory Council:</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> Dr. Bala Takaya, Prof. Sam Egwu. <b style="">Trustees:</b> Hauwa Shekarau, Rev. Mathias Ndian, Dr. Ayodele Jegede.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style=""> </span>Christine Olaniyan, <b style="">Director</b>: Shamaki Gad Peter</span></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><i style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Director</span></i><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-51345604876667966362010-03-17T06:27:00.000-07:002010-03-26T03:58:15.861-07:00WHEN THE ARMY WENT TO SLEEP AND THE POEPLE WERE MASSACRED<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:group id="_x0000_s1026" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:187.1pt;margin-top:-33pt;width:87.65pt;" coordorigin="6201,1264" coordsize="1620,1440"> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t59" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="59" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@5@10,20777,6667@7@12,18436,3163@8@11,14932,822@6@9,10800,0@10@9,6667,822@12@11,3163,3163@11@12,822,6667@9@10,,10800@9@6,822,14932@11@8,3163,18436@12@7,6667,20777@10@5,10800,21600@6@5,14932,20777@8@7,18436,18436@7@8,20777,14932@5@6xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32138 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 6393 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 27246 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 18205 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @13 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @13"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@15,@15,@14,@14"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t59" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#f90"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t92" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="92" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@7@14,21232,8005@9@16,20153,5400@11@18,18437,3163@12@17,16200,1447@10@15,13595,368@8@13,10800,0@14@13,8005,368@16@15,5400,1447@18@17,3163,3163@17@18,1447,5400@15@16,368,8005@13@14,,10800@13@8,368,13595@15@10,1447,16200@17@12,3163,18437@18@11,5400,20153@16@9,8005,21232@14@7,10800,21600@8@7,13595,21232@10@9,16200,20153@12@11,18437,18437@11@12,20153,16200@9@10,21232,13595@7@8xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32488 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 4277 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 30274 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 12540 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 25997 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 19948 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @5 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @5"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @6"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @19 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @19"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@21,@21,@20,@20"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t92" style="'position:absolute;" adj="2057" fillcolor="#fc0"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape></v:group><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t136" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="136" adj="10800" path="m@7,l@8,m@5,21600l@6,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum #0 0 10800"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 2 1"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @3 0"> <v:f eqn="if @0 21600 @1"> <v:f eqn="if @0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @4 21600"> <v:f eqn="mid @5 @6"> <v:f eqn="mid @8 @5"> <v:f eqn="mid @7 @8"> <v:f eqn="mid @6 @7"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 0 @5"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="@9,0;@10,10800;@11,21600;@12,10800" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,bottomRight" xrange="6629,14971"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#0cf" strokecolor="#0cf"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="FOR"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="LEAGUE"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="HUMAN RIGHTS"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Working for Economic, Political and Minority Rights "> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;color:white;" stroke> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1033'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><span style="';font-size:9.0pt';">RC 483637<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1034" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" stroked="f"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1034'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">No. 6 Tafawa Balewa Street</span></i></b></st1:address></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">, Jos<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Box 7534</span></i></b></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">, <st1:city st="on">Jos</st1:City> <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></span></i></b></st1:address><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Tel: 234-73-451223, 08036278067<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Fax: (234) 073 – 452395 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">E-mail: Leaguerights@yahoo.com<span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span>: http://leagueforhumanrightsblogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: relative; z-index: 1; left: -36px; top: -52px; width: 699px; height: 211px;"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1026 _x0000_s1027 _x0000_s1028 _x0000_s1029 _x0000_s1030 _x0000_s1031 _x0000_s1032 _x0000_s1033 _x0000_s1034" width="699" height="211" /></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="line-height: 120%;font-family:&quot;;font-size:10pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >10th March 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1035" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;left:0;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1035'/"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: 8; left: 0px; margin-left: -25px; margin-top: 746px; width: 714px; height: 42px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border: 0.75pt solid white; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;color:white;" width="714" bg height="42"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: 8;"> <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1035" style="padding: 4.35pt 7.95pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size:8pt;">National Advisory Council:</span></b><span style="font-size:8pt;"> Dr. Bala Takaya, Prof. Sam Egwu. <b style="">Trustees:</b> Hauwa Shekarau, Rev. Mathias Ndian, Dr. Ayodele Jegede.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><span style=""> </span>Christine Olaniyan, <b style="">Director</b>: Shamaki Gad Peter</span></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t138" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="138" adj="10800" path="m0@0l10800,,21600@0m,21600r10800,l21600,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="val #0"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 1 2"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="10800,0;5400,@1;10800,21600;16200,@1" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="topLeft,#0" yrange="0,21600"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t138" style="'width:161.25pt;" fillcolor="black"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Press Release"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.gif" alt="Press Release" shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="218" height="39" /><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >WHEN THE ARMY WENT TO SLEEP THE PEOPLE WERE MASSACRED<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style="">First, they came for the communists, and I didn’t speak up, because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up, because I was a protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak for me<b style="">---</b></i><b style=""> Rev. martin Niemoller<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >The recent attack on four (4) Berom villages (Ratsat, Zot, Shen and Dogo Nahawa) by Fulani Herdsmen for whatever reason, to say the least is barbaric, uncalled for and the worst act of man’s inhumanity to man and simply condemnable. The killing of innocent women and children shows the complete debasement of the human mind and that our quest for peace on the Plateau is far from being achieved. This pattern of attacks and killings were similar to those that took place in Yelwa Shendam in 2004 that led to the declaration of a State of <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">Emergency</st1:state></st1:place> and we hope that this will not also be the case.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Since the January 17<sup>th</sup> crisis in Jos, there has been allegations of lopsidedness on the part of security personnel from several quarters and this has made people to call for the restructuring of the security personnel not only in the state but across the country giving the fact that several assurance of professionalism form the top echelon has not played out in their statutory duties of protection of lives and properties.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >When Communities put their hope in the hands of Security Forces and the same security men turn the other way when the people are been killed, to say the least is a betrayal of trust. How can we fathom the rational behind the fact that people run to seek for help from those deployed to provide security and they are told either there is no fuel or simply they have not been instructed to act. The usual delay associated with quick security response calls to question the intentions that inform such delays from the high commands.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >People are gradually losing confidence in the presence of security personnel because they no longer believe that it will bring peace and stability and this is to say the least a dangerous development for a nation at the precipice. The main presence of security cannot guarantee peace; it can only come from a heart that has peace and from a peace enforcer that is loyal and committed to his duty. More disturbing is the huge resources used in the maintenance and sustenance of these troops who now let the people down; the same troops who instead of guarding the streets at night engage themselves in idle pass times when the streets go quite, to the detriment of their statutory duties. Giving the fact that the assurances of the military high command has not paid off as the death toll continue to increase and<span style=""> </span>the GOC’s inability to provide stable security and practical solution to the Plateau crisis within the immediacy of time, we therefore call for the removal of the GOC 3<sup>rd</sup> Amoured Division. His troops are slow in response to distress calls, clear lines of command compromise the necessity for quick response, professional conduct as to civil engagement leaves much to be desired and even military intelligence information gathering seems lacking.<span style=""> </span>Plateau state at this point and any other state in conflict needs a GOC with fresh ideas, that thinks outside the box, is proactive and one with mobile and professional troops. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >The Questions we ask after each attack in these communities are:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >How do the attackers move from point ‘A to B’ without being noticed, especially with the state under security alert?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Who and what aid their movements?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Where are the attackers camped and mobilized? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >When do they do their reconnaissance and map out their engagement strategy?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Those that are arrested, what usually happens to them?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Where are those taken to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Abuja</st1:city></st1:place>?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >If the attacks were as a result of retaliation, how can one justify the killing of vulnerable women and children?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >We need peace in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Plateau</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> and in order to have peace, there must be fairness and justice without which there can be no meaningful development. Dialogue is good but it won’t work when people can kill and go unchecked and unpunished by law so the security personnel must step up their game to nip in the bud these attacks by staying loyal and committed to their line of duty. In conclusion, we hereby demand that:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Those arrested should be interrogated and prosecuted in Jos to check impunity.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Government should discourage any act of hate preaching, hate speeches and hate journalism.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >We also call for a review of the security arrangement and we strongly commend the actions of the Acting President on the removal of the former National Security Adviser who seem to have been overwhelmed and lacking in capacity to synergize information and other security agencies who have not performed in the last 2 to 3 years, looking at the spade and spread of violent conflicts around the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Government should investigate activities of neighboring states from where these mercenaries are said to sneak into Plateau state.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>The Federal Government, State Government and Local Government should have the political will to do the right thing by prosecuting those found wanting and putting in place security measures to check uprisings.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Arrest and prosecute Journalists that consciously incite violence through their reportage of crises.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">Ø<span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><span style=""> </span>No committee again. ACTION TIME!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Shamaki Gad Peter</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Director</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">POSTED BY: KHALID KASSIM<br /><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" > <o:p></o:p></span></p>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-31673419307188499302010-03-17T06:23:00.000-07:002010-03-26T04:04:31.364-07:00LET JUSTICE PREVAIL<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1033'/"> </v:shape><v:group id="_x0000_s1026" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:187.1pt;" coordorigin="6201,1264" coordsize="1620,1440"> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t59" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="59" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@5@10,20777,6667@7@12,18436,3163@8@11,14932,822@6@9,10800,0@10@9,6667,822@12@11,3163,3163@11@12,822,6667@9@10,,10800@9@6,822,14932@11@8,3163,18436@12@7,6667,20777@10@5,10800,21600@6@5,14932,20777@8@7,18436,18436@7@8,20777,14932@5@6xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32138 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 6393 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 27246 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 18205 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @13 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @13"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@15,@15,@14,@14"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t59" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#f90"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t92" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="92" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@7@14,21232,8005@9@16,20153,5400@11@18,18437,3163@12@17,16200,1447@10@15,13595,368@8@13,10800,0@14@13,8005,368@16@15,5400,1447@18@17,3163,3163@17@18,1447,5400@15@16,368,8005@13@14,,10800@13@8,368,13595@15@10,1447,16200@17@12,3163,18437@18@11,5400,20153@16@9,8005,21232@14@7,10800,21600@8@7,13595,21232@10@9,16200,20153@12@11,18437,18437@11@12,20153,16200@9@10,21232,13595@7@8xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32488 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 4277 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 30274 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 12540 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 25997 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 19948 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @5 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @5"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @6"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @19 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @19"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@21,@21,@20,@20"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t92" style="'position:absolute;" adj="2057" fillcolor="#fc0"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape></v:group><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t136" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="136" adj="10800" path="m@7,l@8,m@5,21600l@6,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum #0 0 10800"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 2 1"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @3 0"> <v:f eqn="if @0 21600 @1"> <v:f eqn="if @0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @4 21600"> <v:f eqn="mid @5 @6"> <v:f eqn="mid @8 @5"> <v:f eqn="mid @7 @8"> <v:f eqn="mid @6 @7"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 0 @5"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="@9,0;@10,10800;@11,21600;@12,10800" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,bottomRight" xrange="6629,14971"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#0cf" strokecolor="#0cf"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="FOR"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="LEAGUE"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="HUMAN RIGHTS"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Working for Economic, Political and Minority Rights "> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1034" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1034'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">No. 6 Tafawa Balewa Street</span></i></b></st1:address></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">, Jos<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Box 7534</span></i></b></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">, <st1:city st="on">Jos</st1:City> <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></span></i></b></st1:address><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-family:font-size:12.0pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Tel: 234-73-451223, 08036278067<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Fax: (234) 073 – 452395 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">E-mail: Leaguerights@yahoo.com<span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">http://leagueforhumanrightsblogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: relative; z-index: 6; left: -12px; top: -52px; width: 675px; height: 187px;"> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="0" height="0"><br /></td> <td width="557"><br /></td> <td width="6"><br /></td> <td width="112"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="52"><br /></td> <td rowspan="3" align="left" valign="top"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1026 _x0000_s1027 _x0000_s1028 _x0000_s1029 _x0000_s1030 _x0000_s1031 _x0000_s1032 _x0000_s1034" width="557" height="187" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="41"><br /></td> <td><br /></td> <td style="border: 0.75pt solid white; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;color:white;" width="112" bg height="41"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; z-index: 6;"> <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1033" style="padding: 4.35pt 7.95pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:9pt;">RC 483637<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> <tr> <td height="94"><br /></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:6pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >8th February 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t138" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="138" adj="10800" path="m0@0l10800,,21600@0m,21600r10800,l21600,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="val #0"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 1 2"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="10800,0;5400,@1;10800,21600;16200,@1" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="topLeft,#0" yrange="0,21600"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t138" style="'width:180.75pt;" fillcolor="black"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Press Release"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.gif" alt="Press Release" shapes="_x0000_i1025" width="244" height="32" /><!--[endif]--></span></i></b><b style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14pt;">LET JUSTICE PREVAIL<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:9pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Of late, calls for the return of the suspects of the Jos crisis back to Jos for prosecution, were made from different quarters. The <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Plateau</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> government, civil society organizations and eminent citizens were among those who made these calls. It was hoped that those genuine calls would prick the conscience of the authorities but unfortunately a hurried arrangement for the arraignment of 108 suspects was carried through in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Abuja</st1:place></st1:city>. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >The abruptness of this trial vis a vis the reluctance of the authorities to arraign the November 2008 suspects that were transferred to <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Abuja</st1:city></st1:place>, raises eyebrows. We are doubtful of this arrangement because there is a distinct possibility that the trial is a smokescreen orchestrated to douse the agitation of the people of <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Plateau</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >This disinclination to return the suspects to Jos by the authorities in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Abuja</st1:city></st1:place> is fraught with suspicion. As a matter of fact, it is an action that cannot pass through the crucible of credibility and not be found wanting. Certain facts are not in dispute. It is within common knowledge that crises have occurred in so many parts of the North and there are no instances of suspects taken to <st1:city st="on">Abuja</st1:city> or arraigned in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Abuja</st1:place></st1:city>. This departure is starkly questionable. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Could it be that some unfortunate and less privilege Nigerians are being sacrificed to let go the actual suspects? If the suspects are tried in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Abuja</st1:city></st1:place>, who can guarantee the identity of the suspects? To ensure that fairness prevails, we demand the transfer of the suspects involved in the November 2008 and January 2010 crises back to Jos for prosecution. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:9pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >The authorities should not be naïve to think that these agitations will die down. Unless and until the suspects are brought back to Jos, these calls will remain constant as the Northern star. The agitations are in our humble and considered opinion wise counsels that the authorities should allow to prevail.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >We condemn in strong terms the actions of the authorities and their insensitivity to the genuine calls to the adherence to the rule of law which is the thrust of this present administration. These actions are wholesale threats to peace and democracy in this country because the federal government is fond of transferring suspects of Jos crisis to <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Abuja</st1:place></st1:city>. This puts a question mark on its fairness to deal with the matter creditably. We strongly demand that the suspects be brought back to Jos for prosecution with immediate effect as doing otherwise will put a dent on our democracy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >We also call on the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency to safeguard the integrity<span style=""> </span>of the country and protect our hard earn democracy, to look into the President’s issue to enable him transfer the mantle of leadership to the <span style=""> </span>Vice President to act on his behalf, pending his return. As we can’t afford to see millions of <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></st1:place> suffers in misery as a result of an individual.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;font-size:7pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Shamaki Gad Peter<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" >Director<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">POSTED BY : KHALID KASSIM<br /><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1035" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1035'/"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style=""> <table align="left" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td width="13" height="16"><br /></td> </tr> <tr> <td><br /></td> <td style="border: 0.75pt solid white; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;color:white;" width="714" bg height="42"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: 8;"> <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1035" style="padding: 4.35pt 7.95pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size:8pt;">National Advisory Council:</span></b><span style="font-size:8pt;"> Dr. Bala Takaya, Prof. Sam Egwu. <b style="">Trustees:</b> Hauwa Shekarau, Rev. Mathias Ndian, Dr. Ayodele Jegede.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><span style=""> </span>Christine Olaniyan, <b style="">Director</b>: Shamaki Gad Peter</span></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><span style=";font-family:&quot;;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-18457614229202350362010-03-17T06:10:00.000-07:002010-03-17T06:22:16.035-07:00press release<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:group id="_x0000_s1026" style="'position:absolute;margin-left:187.1pt;margin-top:-33pt;width:87.65pt;" coordorigin="6201,1264" coordsize="1620,1440"> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t59" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="59" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@5@10,20777,6667@7@12,18436,3163@8@11,14932,822@6@9,10800,0@10@9,6667,822@12@11,3163,3163@11@12,822,6667@9@10,,10800@9@6,822,14932@11@8,3163,18436@12@7,6667,20777@10@5,10800,21600@6@5,14932,20777@8@7,18436,18436@7@8,20777,14932@5@6xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32138 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 6393 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 27246 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 18205 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @13 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @13"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@15,@15,@14,@14"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t59" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#f90"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t92" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="92" adj="2700" path="m21600,10800l@7@14,21232,8005@9@16,20153,5400@11@18,18437,3163@12@17,16200,1447@10@15,13595,368@8@13,10800,0@14@13,8005,368@16@15,5400,1447@18@17,3163,3163@17@18,1447,5400@15@16,368,8005@13@14,,10800@13@8,368,13595@15@10,1447,16200@17@12,3163,18437@18@11,5400,20153@16@9,8005,21232@14@7,10800,21600@8@7,13595,21232@10@9,16200,20153@12@11,18437,18437@11@12,20153,16200@9@10,21232,13595@7@8xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 #0"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 32488 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 4277 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 30274 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 12540 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 25997 32768"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 19948 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @1 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @2 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @3 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @4 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @5 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @4"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @5"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @6"> <v:f eqn="prod @0 23170 32768"> <v:f eqn="sum @19 10800 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 10800 0 @19"> </v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect" textboxrect="@21,@21,@20,@20"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,center" xrange="0,10800"> </v:handles> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t92" style="'position:absolute;" adj="2057" fillcolor="#fc0"> <v:shadow on="t" offset="6pt,-6pt"> </v:shape></v:group><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t136" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="136" adj="10800" path="m@7,l@8,m@5,21600l@6,21600e"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="sum #0 0 10800"> <v:f eqn="prod #0 2 1"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="sum 21600 0 @3"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @3 0"> <v:f eqn="if @0 21600 @1"> <v:f eqn="if @0 0 @2"> <v:f eqn="if @0 @4 21600"> <v:f eqn="mid @5 @6"> <v:f eqn="mid @8 @5"> <v:f eqn="mid @7 @8"> <v:f eqn="mid @6 @7"> <v:f eqn="sum @6 0 @5"> </v:formulas> <v:path textpathok="t" connecttype="custom" connectlocs="@9,0;@10,10800;@11,21600;@12,10800" connectangles="270,180,90,0"> <v:textpath on="t" fitshape="t"> <v:handles> <v:h position="#0,bottomRight" xrange="6629,14971"> </v:handles> <o:lock ext="edit" text="t" shapetype="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="#0cf" strokecolor="#0cf"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="FOR"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1030" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="LEAGUE"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1031" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;" fillcolor="navy" strokecolor="navy"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="HUMAN RIGHTS"> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1032" type="#_x0000_t136" style="'position:absolute;"> <v:shadow color="#868686"> <v:textpath style="'font-family:" trim="t" fitpath="t" string="Working for Economic, Political and Minority Rights "> </v:shape><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t202" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_s1033" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1033'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><span style="'font-size:9.0pt'">RC 483637<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><v:shape id="_x0000_s1034" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;" stroked="f"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1034'"> <![if !mso]> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td><![endif]> <div> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">No. 6 Tafawa Balewa Street</span></i></b></st1:address></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:">, Jos<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on"><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;">Box 7534</span></i></b></st1:Street><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:">, <st1:city st="on">Jos</st1:City> <st1:country-region st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region></span></i></b></st1:address><b><i><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;font-family:">.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Tel: 234-73-451223, 08036278067<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">Fax: (234) 073 – 452395 <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b><i><span style="'font-size:">E-mail: Leaguerights@yahoo.com<span style="'mso-spacerun:yes'"> </span>: http://leagueforhumanrightsblogspot.com<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="'text-align:justify'"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="'mso-bidi-font-weight:normal'"><i style="'mso-bidi-font-style:normal'"><span style="'font-family:"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> </div> <![if !mso]></td> </tr> </table> <![endif]></v:textbox> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: relative; z-index: 1; left: -24px; top: -52px; width: 687px; height: 230px;"><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HUMANR%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif" shapes="_x0000_s1026 _x0000_s1027 _x0000_s1028 _x0000_s1029 _x0000_s1030 _x0000_s1031 _x0000_s1032 _x0000_s1033 _x0000_s1034" height="230" width="687" /></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Sir,</span><i style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"> <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i style=""><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">15th March 2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><i style=""><span style="font-size: 15pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">PRESS RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">The civil society organizations on the Plateau wish to utterly condemn the wanton destruction of lives and property in a recent crisis that re-erupted in some parts of Jos and its environs. The fact that the crises re-erupted when the people of the state were just about getting over a similar crisis which claimed lots of lives and properties around a year ago is most regrettable, considering the investment of Non Governmental Organization (NGO), government and other stakeholders in peace building and conflict resolution.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style=""> </span>It is imperative despite our numerous press releases and interviews to call for this press dialogue so as to draw your attention to some alarmingly dangerous precedence that could be inimical to the efforts being made to find a lasting solution to the recurrence of crisis in Jos.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">For quite sometime, falsehood and sentiments have been allowed to thrive and that has always stood in the way of genuine and lasting resolution of the problem in Jos. In the face of concrete reality, rumours are being peddled and unfortunately accepted as the truth and are made the foundations for peace building process. Sentiments have also gain currency and have overridden good reasoning in the quest to restore peace in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Nigeria</st1:place></st1:country-region> and Plateau in particular. If we continue to make these- twin evil our bed rock for lasting peace, </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">it is safe to infer that the end of the crisis in Jos is no where in sight. We have to call a spade a spade and be hugely prudent with sentiments. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Having critically analyzed the crisis, we wish to state our positions as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 6pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Residents of Plateau <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">It is increasingly becoming more dangerous for Nigerians to reside in most northern part of the country and a pass time for some Nigerians in the North to kill and destroy at will. Such individuals erroneously believe they have a licence to kill, inflict harm and burn and destroy other people’s property. To them, the laws of the land make no sense and they are untouchable. At the slightest provocation, or even unprovoked, they unleash terror on fellow citizens. Shortly before the New Year it was Bauchi state and eight days back it was Plateau state.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">We note with regret, the growing intolerance of residents of the state who now, unfortunately, see violence as only means of resolving conflicts. It is our belief that the disagreement which escalated into this violence could have been resolved otherwise if the parties had not taken laws into their hands. A situation where people with little or no provocation embark on massive destruction of lives and properties creates a dangerous trend which must quickly be addressed by all authorities concerned. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1035" type="#_x0000_t202" style="'position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;" strokecolor="white"> <v:textbox style="'mso-next-textbox:#_x0000_s1035'/"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span style="position: relative; z-index: 8; left: -25px; top: 30px; width: 714px; height: 72px;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td style="border: 0.75pt solid white; background: white none repeat scroll 0% 50%; vertical-align: top; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" bgcolor="white" height="42" width="714"><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--><span style="position: absolute; left: 0pt; z-index: 8;"> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--[endif]--> <div shape="_x0000_s1035" style="padding: 4.35pt 7.95pt;" class="shape"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><b style=""><span style="font-size: 8pt;">National Advisory Council:</span></b><span style="font-size: 8pt;"> Dr. Bala Takaya, Prof. Sam Egwu. <b style="">Trustees:</b> Hauwa Shekarau, Rev. Mathias Ndian, Dr. Ayodele Jegede.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style=""> </span>Christine Olaniyan, <b style="">Director</b>: Shamaki Gad Peter</span></p> </div> <!--[if !mso]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">State and federal governments <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">While we commend the efforts of governments both at state and federal levels in ensuring peace returned to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Plateau</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, we wish to observe the following: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the trivialities accorded the issue of security of lives and property by government especially the nonchalant treatment of early warnings, deployment of security personnel during crises and procedures has become a cause of concern for us.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the steps taken by both the state and federal governments on previous crisis leaves much to be pondered as to whether there is any synergy between both levels of government to tackle the security problem in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the inability of both governments to bring to book those arrested in relation to previous crises has left an impression that governments condone such heinous crime against the state and humanity.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the inability of past and present governments to publish and implement reports of previous commissions of inquiry on Jos crisis shows governments weak political will to tackle the issue of Jos crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-size: 4pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Media</span></u></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">We wish to condemn the biased reportage of the crisis by local and foreign media who for selfish interest peddled falsehood that created a lot of tension within and outside the state. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt; font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Security Personnel <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">We wish to commend the efforts of the immediate past commissioner of police who was brave enough to give face to the faceless hoodlums and equally commend other security personnel in the state in quelling the violent crisis. We however, have the following observations:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the inability of the security apparatus in the state to act on intelligence report, early warnings and rumours on the likely re-occurrence of Jos crisis left much to be desired.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the refusal of security personnel who were present at the time the crisis started to nip it in the bud on the excuse that they had no order to act allowed the full escalation of the crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the various incidence of side-taking, bias and favouritism, harassment and abuse of the fundamental human rights of citizens have eroded the confidence the people have in the Nigerian Army to protect their lives and property (there were many reports of solders aiding and abetting the burning of property by some people).<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the removal of the immediate past commissioner of police Greg Ayanting was done in bad faith and could discourage other officers in doing their work creditably.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">That the purported take-over of the security of Plateau State by the Army as announced by the GOC 3rd Armoured Division Rukuba Barracks is unconstitutional and tantamount to a coup-d’etat. For the avoidance of doubt, section 217 (2)(c) quoted by the GOC as the basis for his declaration does not in any way contemplate the taking over of the security of a state by the Army, it only allows the Army to act “i<u>n aid of civil authorities</u>” and not ‘take over’. To say the least, the statement is an affront on democracy in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Plateau</st1:PlaceType> <st1:placetype st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 27pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -27pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style=""><u><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Recommendations</span></u></b><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Therefore recommend the following <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">1.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Speedy prosecution and punishment of all those arrested in connection with the January<span style=""> </span>17 crisis in Plateau State to serve as deterrent to others that government will no longer condone senseless destruction of<span style=""> </span>lives and property in Plateau State or anywhere in Nigeria.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">2.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Government should immediately release and implement reports of previous commissions of inquiry into the Jos crisis.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">3.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Redeployment of the present GOC to restore the confidence of the residents of state in the military in the state. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">4.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">There should be a joint task force to take charge of the security and not the military exclusively. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">5.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Distribution of relief materials should be equitable and fair; NEMA and SEMA should work together and also involve the CSO.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="">6.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">The Ban on the commercial motor cycle riders and sell of (fuel in Jerry cans) should be fully implemented and sustained, however the state government should make concerted effort to ensure adequate supply of fuel at the petrol stations and should equally provide alternative means of transportation. </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">7.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">We call on the inspector general of police and the federal government to transfer the culprits that were apprehended during the November 2008 and January 2010 crisis back to Jos for prosecution. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">8.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">The posting of military personnel should be critically looked into so as to avoid biased treatment.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><span style="">9.<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">The military trucks used in conveying groups of people in crisis situation should be done equitably <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><b style=""><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Shamaki Gad Peter <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial Narrow&quot;;">Director <o:p></o:p></span></p>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-20788378666648339552009-10-21T05:41:00.000-07:002009-10-21T05:49:15.506-07:00DEREGULATION: IN WHO’S INTEREST?<div align="justify">15th October 200<br /><br /><strong>DEREGULATION: IN WHO’S INTEREST?</strong><br />The federal government has once again threatened to impose full deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry on Nigerians against their will. While government had given its inability to sustain the huge subsidy that it pays out for fuel as the major reason for the planned deregulation, it has argued further that it will, through deregulation, reduce the level of distortions or corruption involved in oil transactions and that it will offer more benefits to Nigerians, because the oil market will become more efficient and the resulting benefits will be passed on to Nigerians in the form of lower product prices, better quality of service and ease, as well, as constant availability of the product. With due respect, nothing can be more fallacious than this. We have argued in the past that for any Nigerian government to talk about removing subsidy on petroleum product, such government must first explain to Nigerians in clear terms how trillions of dollars generated from the oil sector over the years has translated into better life for Nigerians. The government must explain in clears terms why our refineries have defied repairs despite the billions that have been appropriated into that. What do we have on ground to show for the boom in oil prices over the years? This is a country where infrastructures are dead, power supply is zero, and the health and education sectors are daily on the decline. Reports have it that about 75million Nigerians still go to bed hungry. This is the irony of Nigeria; rich country with poor people.<br /><br />It is therefore not enough to tell us what huge amount government is spending on subsidy; government should tell us how the remaining revenue has been used for our common good. If truly we can call it subsidy, apparently that is the only thing Nigerians enjoy from their collective wealth, after all, we provide basic amenities for ourselves, for those we can provide and endure the poor state or total unavailability of others. What then is the responsibility of government? To share and ferry away our collective wealth? Until government is able to put the basic infrastructures in place and empower the poor masses, full deregulation can only mean further impoverishment of the masses and therefore unacceptable.<br /><br /><strong>The Gruesome Murder of Grace Adie Ushang in Maiduguri</strong><br />The recent gruesome murder of Grace Adie Ushang, a youth corps member serving in Maiduguri is, to say the least, barbaric and totally condemnable. It is totally unacceptable that fellow Nigerians could under whatever guise carry out such criminal act on a lady in the service of her fatherland. We call on the Nigerian police and indeed the government of Bornu State to ensure that perpetrators of this cruel act are brought to book. We sympathise with the family of Grace and pray that her gentle soul rests in perfect peace.<br /><br /><strong>The Terminus Clean-Up</strong><br />Terminus axis of Jos metropolis now wears a new look following the forceful removal of stores and kiosks and prohibition of trade around the area. While this effort of the state government is commendable, the question remain, where is the government asking the traders to go? What is the alternative provided for these petty traders in the metropolis? It must be noted that most of the traders around terminus area depend on their daily sales to be able to provide food for their families. It is therefore important that government should provide alternative space that would be affordable to these displaced traders. We once again call on government to consider the rebuilding of the burnt terminus market and urgent completion of the satellite market along Rukuba Road. Displacing traders on terminus axis without providing alternative space would definitely bring untold hardship on these petty traders and their families. Government’s actions no matter how necessary must always be humane, to be otherwise is tyranny.<br /><br /><strong>Public Schools Still on Strike in Plateau</strong><br />It appears all have given up on the situation of education in Plateau state. Otherwise how does one explain that for more than four months now, public schools in the state have remained closed due to teachers’ strike and nothing is being done? We still want to appeal to all stakeholders in this matter to reconsider their positions for the sake of the children of poor masses who cannot afford the expensive private schools. We must not forget posterity will judge all our actions and inactions.<br /><br /><strong>Akinropo Omoware Esq.</strong><br />Legal Officer</div>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-41484957581072965542009-09-03T06:07:00.000-07:002009-09-03T06:37:17.272-07:00JUST PUBLISHED BY LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS<ul><li><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Promotion of the Rights to Equality and Non-discrimination</span></li><li><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Protection of the Rights to Equality: Local and International Standard</span></li></ul><p><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Wacht out for our New Publications:</span></p><ul><li><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Thoroughness, Correctness &amp; Consistency: the Press Releases Through the Years</span></li><li><span style="color:#ff0000;"> Religious Based Laws, Indiginious Minorities and isolationism in Nigeria</span></li></ul>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-78447508728063719142009-09-03T05:46:00.000-07:002009-09-03T05:52:08.343-07:00LHR TRAIN POLICE ON HUMAN RIGHTS<div align="justify"><span style="color:#000099;">League for Human Rights Jos, on 15th July trained about 50 police officers majority of whom are Divisional Police Officers on Human Rights and Law Enforcement. The training was part of the project on Improving Justice Administration in Plateau State which LHR is undertaking under the sponsorship of National Endowment for Democracy (NED).</span></div>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-26566690318704867292009-08-25T07:46:00.000-07:002009-08-25T07:53:19.086-07:00POST–UME AND THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#993399;">PRESS RELEASE</span><br /></div><div align="justify">24th August 2009<br /></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:180%;color:#009900;">POST–UME AND THE STATE OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">On 28th July 2008, we issued a press statement, wherein we condemned the way and manner Post-UMEs’ were conducted by ‘our universities’ and how the whole exercise has been turned into another JAMB and money making venture. Just a few months back the federal government through the Federal Ministry of Education issued a directive stating that no university should charge more than One Thousand Naira (N1,000) for Post-UME. But this has turned out to be mere statement.<br /><br />The University of Jos conducted its supposed Post-UME from the 3rd- 8th of August 2009 in a manner that shows the insensibility of the university administrators to the plight of prospective Nigerians seeking admission into the institution. First, against the directive of the Federal Government, the University charged each student N2, 300. More disturbing is the fact that the University invited not less than 30,000 candidates, when it has the capacity to admit approximately about 4,000 students per session inclusive of Remedial, Direct Entry and UME. What then is the moral justification for such a scenario? The University also invited all those who made it its second choice when it can hardly absorb those who made the university its first choice. This further lay credence to the fact that the whole exercise was a money spinning venture for a few.<br /><br />Secondly, for security reasons the exams ought to have been postponed as it was conducted at a time the nation was yet to come out of the shock of the Boko Haram insurgence. Some candidates could not attend the exams because of the general fear of their safety. The fears were of course reasonable owing to the events in the northern part of the country. Not putting the security situation into consideration was a serious insensitivity on the part of the institution.<br /><br />Thirdly, the Post-UME for the first time was conducted with computers. This sounds like good news considering the global advancement in technology and growing popularity of computer usage all around the world. But where is the place of Nigeria in that global technology? How many students (apart from children of the elite, those in the urban centres, and those in highly unaffordable private schools) are familiar with computers? For many of our brothers and sisters who had their education in rural communities where there are no good schools, roads, electricity, etc the only avenue of seeing computers is on the pages of textbooks. Therefore, the adoption of computers as a means of examinations conferred undue advantage on candidates from private and urban secondary schools over those from public and rural schools. And this means automatic failure for candidates from rural areas and thus establishing nothing but social injustice. It might interest the management of the University of Jos to know that majority of students and staff of the university and many enlightened Nigerians cannot use computers even for leisure not to talk of using them for exams.<br />National Advisory Council: Dr. Bala Takaya, Prof. Sam Egwu. Trustees: Hauwa Shekarau, Rev. Mathias Ndian, Dr. Ayodele Jegede.<br /> Christine Olaniyan Acting Director: Shamaki Gad Peter<br />Another fundamental question begging for attention is why would University of Jos, that prides itself as a leading ICT centre in the country contract the ‘computerised Post-UME’ to a consulting firm of individuals that are relatively unknown? Before now a lot of us thought that the essence of the Post-UME is to provide a platform for candidates to interact with lecturers to ascertain if they were the ones who actually took the JAMB examinations. It was also to provide an opportunity from that interaction for the character of candidates to be ascertained. The written test hitherto, was to establish the suitability for admission of candidates from their grammatical construction and presentation.<br /><br />We are saying it loud and clear that the present Post-UME exam in the country is a far cry from what is expected of it. We therefore urge all authorities concerned: the federal ministry of education, the NUC and the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency make deliberate efforts to sanitise the post-UME exercise in the country. We also call on the EFCC and ICPC to focus their attention on ‘our universities’ with the aim of knowing how much they have generated in all Post-UME and how those monies were used. It is a very dangerous trend when the soul of the society, i.e the citadels of learning are turned into market squares. For the growth and development of any society, trust, responsibility and accountability at all levels serve as a panacea to underdevelopment. The Universities must be the arrowheads of this transformation and thus, cannot be enmeshed in this murky water. For University of Jos, we call on the management of the institution to refund the sum of N1,300 to all the candidates who were made to pay N2,300.<br /><br />WHERE LAY THEIR FUTURE?<br />It sadden our hearts to note that teachers in public schools in Plateau state have been on strike for over three months to push home their demand for enhanced welfare. Strikes in whatever form have always had negative effect on the development of any state and with particular reference to the on going teachers strike, its damage to the growth and development of the state and on the lives of innocent supposed future leaders cannot be quantified. At the moment the pupils and students have missed out on their promotion exams, common entrance, junior secondary examination and a lot of them are indulging in risky activities.<br /> <br />It is a trite knowledge that the place and position of education in the growth and development of any society can never be over estimated, education is crucial for human capital development of any society. Education has a vital role in empowering women, safeguarding children from exploitative and hazardous labour and sexual exploitation, promoting human rights and democracy, protecting the environment, and controlling population growth. It is the only vehicle by which economically and socially marginalized adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty and obtain the means to participate fully in their communities and the act of governance.<br /><br />Education, we must keep in mind, is a universal phenomenon. Its means of transmission requires the ability to read, write and communicate in the generally accepted languages of communication fluently. Every child, we must not forget, deserves quality and comprehensive education and it is the responsibility of parents, teachers, governments and other stakeholders to provide the child with such. Majority of Plateau children receive a quality of education that is extremely poor, leaving them without the skills and knowledge they need to lift themselves out of poverty. <br /><br />Therefore if these children in public schools are not given quality education and it is nobody’s business because they are children of the poor and the have-nots, it will become everyone’s business when they become nuisance to the society as we shall all become victims and casualties of their nuisance activities. But more fundamentally, how do we get quality and credible leaders that would move Plateau state and Nigeria forward if the quality of teaching is disrupted at will.<br /><br />It is a known fact that few years back the education sector in Plateau State was like a sick baby in critical condition at the intensive unit of a paediatric specialist hospital. Parents, teachers, non-governmental organisations and other concern stakeholders all cried foul over the fallen standard of education in the state. The situation was so critical that the state rating in all national examinations was on a decline yearly. In addition, the state lost some grants meant for education due to lack of accountability and counterpart funding by the state government, the morale of teachers was at its lowest ebb due to lack of promotion, training, none payment of salaries and other allowances. This alarming scenario no doubt was an offshoot of insufficient human, financial and institutional capacities in the sector; lack of policy coordination between all levels of governments.<br /><br />It was however quite relieving, when this present administration declared a state of emergence on the educational sector and when credible, highly experienced and expert individuals were appointed to serve in the educational sector. This singular innovation brought about a lot of sanity in the educational sector of the state as they infused new blood into the sector. We have on records that education secretaries were properly screened and appointed, financial entitlements of teachers in the legal payroll of government are being paid regularly, qualified and experience teachers are sought after for teaching jobs, there was training and retraining for English and mathematics teachers and instructional materials for the schools are properly managed. These are efforts in the right direction as they have the potential of transforming the educational sector of the state for the better. But they are by no means an end in itself.<br /><br />The challenges of education in the state can not be adequately addressed in an atmosphere of strikes and rancour. Now is the time for relevant actors in the educational sector to direct their energy towards addressing the underlying mechanisms that necessitated the current teachers’ strike in particular, incessant strikes in the sector and other issues that have affected the delivery of quality education in public schools in general- especially at the primary level of education. This is especially so, when we understand that primary school education is the foundation for the success or failure of all other educational enterprise since other higher levels of education are built upon this foundation. Therefore, government at all levels must take appropriate legislative, administrative, budgetary, judicial and other necessary measures towards the full realization of the right of every Nigerian Child to quality education.<br /><br />It must be noted here, that apart from the general problem of brain drain in the Nigerian education system, recent developments on the Plateau revealed that a lot of teachers prefer working with other organizations including the Local Government Authorities where they get better monetary motivation, pay less tax, and get their salaries every month end even when they do less work and only report for work at their own conveniences. This trend must be prevented if we really want to preserve and improve on the quality of education in the state.<br /><br />As a way forward towards achieving Education for All, meeting the UBE and MDGs goals on education, reducing the current rate of strikes in the educational sector and placing the state among the best three most educational advanced states:<br /><br />Ø It is a sine qua-non for the state government, as a matter of urgency to codify a law that will mandate all government officials from the rank of Assistant Director and above to have their children attend public schools. This way, one has some level of assurance that government will give more attention to the distressed public schools.<br /><br />Ø Parents, religious/traditional leaders and respected members of the public should form the habits of visiting government schools during school hours to attend classes and to listen to what the teachers are teaching the pupil/students.<br /><br />Ø NUT should at all time consider the future of the Plateau child who is the victim of the current situation and the future of education in general before finally embarking on strikes. As with all labour organizations, strike should always be the last resort of their demand strategy.<br /><br />Ø Government at all levels must be proactive on all issues that border on education.<br /><br />Ø Government and NUT should speedily resort to a round-table dialogue to iron out their differences amicably. We call on both parties to do whatever is possible to resolve the ongoing strike by teachers in the State.<br /><br />Other critical actions that must be taken by this government in relations to its ten point agenda on improving and providing quality education and human resource development include:<br /><br />Ø Ensuring prompt payment of teachers’ salaries, promotions and allowances including annual increment.<br /><br />Ø Adequate provisions and maintenance of teaching and learning facilities in the schools across the state especially in the local government and rural areas.<br /><br />Ø The current training and re-training of teachers should be sustained.<br /><br />Ø Budget increment for education to meet the UNESCO demand of 26% of budgetary allocation to the education sector.<br /><br />Ø There should be regular dialogue between government and other stakeholders, which we think will build and bring about trust.<br /><br />As stakeholders interested in the overall development of education in the state, it is our desire to see us all collectively with this present government forming a common front that will better the lot of children on the Plateau with respect to the quality and quantity of education in the state.<br /><br />NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND THE 2011 ELECTIONS<br />Less than 20 months to the general elections, we are yet to take any concrete steps towards electoral reform. Considering the steps involved in amending the constitution and the slow pace at which the National Assembly is going on constitutional amendment, it is largely in doubt if we are serious about doing anything to make 2011 better than 2007. Even the unrepentant INEC chairman has foreseen doom if nothing is done to reform the system. Whether this was a sincere alarm or not, one thing is sure, we are about to break the 2007 record of electoral fraud unless something urgent is done. The Senate has condemned Mrs Clinton for telling us our problem is failure of leadership; this is the time to really tell us they are ready to do something different. Let them expedite actions on the various bills before them that have bearing on elections in Nigeria. They must equally ensure that the voice and wishes of Nigerians as expressed in the Uwais Report find full and complete expression in this process. Nigerians have spoken; they have the sacred duty and responsibility to say ‘YEA’ to the voice of Nigerians.<br /><br />ENDLESS ASUU STRIKE<br />University students in the country are still sitting idle at home and wasting away courtesy of the endless ASUU strike. So much blames have been traded between ASUU and Federal Government, but it is important to note that those bearing the brunt are the students who watch helplessly as some essential parts of their lives are going into waste, their helpless parents, our dying education sector and our nation. It is equally important to state that most of our decision–makers at federal, state and local government levels have their children in expensive private institutions or better still, foreign institutions. For them, whether our Universities are closed down for years, it is nothing of concern. Where do we go from here?<br /><br />Shamaki Gad Peter<br />Director</span></div>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-18902678308229028442009-07-03T20:04:00.000-07:002009-07-03T20:07:30.619-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7HDz8i7xI/AAAAAAAAABI/z6ckmzQsslQ/s1600-h/Photo-0183_e1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 284px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7HDz8i7xI/AAAAAAAAABI/z6ckmzQsslQ/s320/Photo-0183_e1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354435875287789330" border="0" /></a>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-11095619744460535102009-07-03T20:01:00.000-07:002009-07-03T20:04:48.434-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7GYTnYe-I/AAAAAAAAABA/Z27-CiMT4do/s1600-h/P6100051.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7GYTnYe-I/AAAAAAAAABA/Z27-CiMT4do/s320/P6100051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354435127874714594" border="0" /></a>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-45905668339806870482009-07-03T19:47:00.000-07:002009-07-03T19:51:14.389-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7DLyr8QEI/AAAAAAAAAA4/X5NFlreHwhU/s1600-h/P6100048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7DLyr8QEI/AAAAAAAAAA4/X5NFlreHwhU/s320/P6100048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354431614342152258" border="0" /></a>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-6119490439726278462009-07-03T19:41:00.000-07:002009-07-03T19:46:26.734-07:00League's pix<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7CDPfC4lI/AAAAAAAAAAw/86e8LfA0LC8/s1600-h/P6100043.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__j6ZMzpiDEw/Sk7CDPfC4lI/AAAAAAAAAAw/86e8LfA0LC8/s320/P6100043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354430367942238802" border="0" /></a>LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592106533946985501.post-85989012371577919942009-06-06T02:25:00.000-07:002009-06-06T02:30:03.574-07:00<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, JOS - NIGERIA</span></span>: promoting the human, economic, political, social and minority rights of all in Nigeria.LEAGUE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NIGERIAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18115289008381062351noreply@blogger.com1